Curtain stretcher



l atent ed lVlar. 19 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,706,283 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. FLINK, 0F IRONWOOD, MICHIGAN.

CURTAIN s'rnnrcnnn;

Application filed Getober, 14, 1927. Serial No. 926,194.

The present invention is concerned with the provision of a curtain stretcher including a rectangular stretching framework which is capable of ready and accurate adjustment to accommodate curtains of varying widths and lengths, and which is so constructed that the frame members will be accurately squaredin all positions of adjustment, and there is no possibility ofdistorting or nus-shaping a cur.- tain While drying.

Other objects of the. invention are to provide a curtain stretcher which may be conveniently set up, and which is self-supporting in its normal position of use.

Still other objects are to providea device of this character of extremely simple, prac tical construction which will be rugged, durable andeflicient in use, and well suited to the requirements of economical manufacture,

convenient manipulation and ready knock down for purposes, of compact storage or transportation. V

' With the above noted and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims. The invention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- I Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a curtain stretcher embodying the present inven-- tion.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2'2 of Fig. 1, the dotted lines indicating the positions of the prop and members as they are swung toward collapsed position.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of one ofthe vertically disposed side frame members.

In the drawings I have used the reference numerals 10, 10 to designate a pair of spaced supporting legs for the vstretching frame. Props 11 are hingedly connected at 12 to the rear faces of the legs 10 near the upper ends of the latter, and may be swung rearwardly to the full line position of Fig. 2. To aid in sustaining the legs in their normal rearwardly inclined position, the structureiis reinforced by brace bars 13 pivoted at 14. to the legs 10 near the lower ends of the latter, and detachably engageable with the lower ends of the props 11 as by the'slot'and pin connection 15.

The curtain stretching frame includes an upper horizontally disposed frame member 16 detachably secured tothe legs 10, alower In order to assure accurate-positioning of the upperframe or stringerjlG at exactly right angles to the legs 10, 10, I employ a construction which is substantially equivalent to a T-square and which includes right angu larly disposed stop members 19 on the legs 10 against which the lower edge of the upper stringer-'16 rests. The stringer may be detachably secured to the legs in abutting relation to the members 19 by the use of screws 20 and wing unts 21. Preferably, sufficient play is left at the screws to accommodate for shrinkage of the wooden legs and stringer.

The lower stringer 17 is maintainedin parallelism with the upper strin er by the use of screws 22working in vertical slots 23 in the 10.] The lower stringer maybe clamped in any desired positionof vertical adjustment on the legs by tightening wing nuts 24% which coact with the screws 22, and bind the lower stringer against the legs.

The side frame members 18 are provided with spring hooks 25 at their upper ends adapted to straddle and snugly embrace the upper stringer. Additional hooks or spring fingers 26 are carried by slide members 27 which work up and down on the side frames 18. The hooks 26 are adapted to embrace the lower stringer 17. Slides 27 are of course de signed to permit engagement of the lower stringer bythe hooks 26 in any position of adjustment of the stringer.

In order to assure accurate positioning of the side frames 18 they arev formed with slots 28 and 29 engageable respectively with any i drawings, and graduations are also provided either on the SlClG" frame members or on the front-faces'of the legs 10.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the entire device may be convenientlyknocked down for purposes of stor age or shipment, and when set up, will define changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1'. A curtain stretcher including a supporting frame having means for supporting it in an incl-inedposition, and an adjustable stretcherframe detachably mounted thereon, the stretcher frame includingan upper horizontal stringer fixed to the supporting frame, a lower horizontal stringer slidable on the supporting frame, the stringers having their ends projecting beyond the frame, and a pair of parallel transverse frame members adjustable along the projecting ends of the stringers.

2. A curtain stretcher including a supporting frame andan adjustable stretcher frame detachably mounted thereon, the stretcher frame'including an upper horizontal stringer fixed to the supporting frame, a lower horizontal stringer slidable on the supporting gels to engage the lower stringer, said fingers being carried by slides mounted on the members.

8; A curtain stretcher including a supporting frame and an adjustable stretcher frame detachably mounted thereon, the stretcher frame including an'upper horizontal stringer fixed to the supporting frame, a lower horizontal stringer slidable on the supporting frame and a pair-of parallel transverse frame members adjustable along the stringers, curtain retaining pins on the stretcher frame, the transverse frame members of the stretcher frame having slots therein, each slot receiving a pin of the stringers. 4. A curtain stretcher comprising a pairof legs, a prop hinged to the upper end of each leg, a brace connecting the'legsand props, an

upper stringer secured to the upper ends of the legs with its ends projecting beyond the legs, a lower stringer, means for adjustably securing the lower stringer to the legs with its ends projecting beyond the legs,-a pair of transverse members, and means for detachably and adjustably securing said members to the projecting ends of the stringers. Signed at Ironwood in the county of Grogebio and State of Michigan this 10th day of October A. D1927.

' CHARLES M. FLINK. 

